This section lists general instrument recommendations, required accessories, recommended accessories and required reeds/mouthpieces mentioned in other sections of this handbook. In addition to the items listed, it is also highly recommended that students have a folding wire music stand for home practice.

VIOLIN/VIOLA
  • Recommended brands: Glaesel, Knilling, Scherl & Roth (Please remember that students are growing. Students who currently play 1/2 or 3/4 size instruments may need to exchange them for larger ones in order to insure steady progress. Playing on an instrument of the incorrect size can impede technical progress and may cause physical injury.)
  • Required accessories: rosin, shoulder rest, chin rest, soft cloth for cleaning
  • Recommended accessories: electric tuner or pitch pipe (for tuning at home)

‘CELLO/BASS
  • Recommended brands: Glaesel, Knilling, Scherl & Roth, Engelhardt, Virtuoso (Please remember that students are growing. Students who currently play 1/2 or 3/4 size instruments may need to exchange them for larger ones in order to insure steady progress. Playing on an instrument of the incorrect size can impede technical progress and may cause physical injury.)
  • Required accessories: rosin, rock stop, and soft cloth for cleaning
  • Recommended accessories: electric tuner or pitch pipe (for tuning at home)

FLUTE
  • Recommended brands: Yamaha FYL381H, Gemeinhardt 3SHB
  • Required accessories: cleaning rod and soft cloth
  • Recommended accessories: pad savers, polishing cloth

OBOE
  • Recommended brands: Buffet BC4012-2-0, Yamaha YOB411, and various models by Fox or Renard
  • Required reeds: Marlin Lesher Medium, handmade reeds (no plastic/fiber reeds!)
  • Required accessories: cork grease, silk swab (or feather), and reed case
  • Recommended accessories: thumb cushion, polishing cloth

BASSOON
  • Recommended brands: various models by Fox or Renard
  • Required reeds: Marlin Lesher Medium, Jones Medium, handmade reeds (no plastic/fiber reeds!)
  • Required accessories: seat strap, crutch, swab, cork grease (or paraffin)

CLARINET
  • Recommended brands: Buffet E11 or E12, Selmer CL211 or B15P2, Yamaha YCL450N
  • Required reeds: Mitchell Lurie 3 or 31/2, Vandoren 21/2 or 3, Vandoren V12 31/2 or 4 if using a Vandoren M15 mouthpiece. (Students must keep at least two good reeds in their cases at all times. Please only purchase the brand and strength of reeds recommended by the director or private teacher.)
  • Required accessories: reed guard (holds and protects 2 or 4 reeds, depending upon model), swab, cork grease, and mouthpiece cap
  • Recommended accessories: Rovner Dark ligature, mouthpiece cushion, thumb cushion, mouthpiece brush, pad savers
  • Recommended mouthpieces: Hite Premier (intermediate) or Vandoren M15 (advanced)

BASS CLARINET
  • Recommended brands: Vito 7166, Yamaha YCL221, Selmer 1430P
  • Required reeds: Rico Royale or Vandoren 21/2 or 3 (Students must keep at least two good reeds in their cases at all times. Please only purchase the brand and strength of reeds recommended by the director or private teacher.)
  • Required accessories: reed guard (holds and protects 2 or 4 reeds, depending upon model), swab, cork grease, and mouthpiece cap
  • Recommended accessories: Rovner Dark ligature, mouthpiece cushion, thumb cushion, mouthpiece brush, pad savers
  • Recommended mouthpieces: Selmer C*

SAXOPHONES
  • Recommended alto brands: Yamaha YAS52, Selmer AS210
  • Recommended tenor brands: Yamaha YTS52, Selmer TS200
  • Recommended baritone brands: Yamaha YBS52, Selmer 1256
  • Required reeds: La Voz Medium, Hemke 21/2 or 3 (Students must keep at least two good reeds in their cases at all times. Please only purchase the brand and strength of reeds recommended by the director or private teacher.)
  • Required accessories: neck strap, reed guard (holds and protects 2 or 4 reeds, depending upon model), swab, cork grease, and mouthpiece cap
  • Recommended accessories: Rovner Dark ligature, mouthpiece cushion, mouthpiece brush, pad/neck savers
  • Recommended mouthpieces: Selmer C*, Yamaha 4C (alto & tenor), Yamaha 5C (baritone)

TRUMPET
  • Recommended brands: Yamaha YTR4335GS, Bach TR2000, various Bach Stradivarius models
  • Required mouthpiece: Bach 7C, 5C, or 3C or equivalent (Please consult director or private teacher for recommendation)
  • Required accessories: valve oil (Al Cass is recommended), mouthpiece brush, cleaning snake, and slide grease
  • Recommended accessories: polishing cloth, valve cleaning rod, straight mute

HORN
  • Recommended brands: Holton H378, H379, or H177 double horns
  • Required mouthpiece: Bach 11 or 7 or equivalent (Please consult director or private teacher for recommendation)
  • Required accessories: rotor oil, mouthpiece brush, cleaning snake, and slide grease
  • Recommended accessories: polishing cloth

TROMBONE
  • Recommended brands: Yamaha YSL446G or YSL448G, Bach Stradivarius 36 or 42
  • Required mouthpiece: Bach 61/2AL or equivalent (Please consult director or private teacher for recommendation)
  • Required accessories: Trombotine slide crème and small water spray bottle (for main slide), mouthpiece brush, cleaning snake, slide grease, rotary valve oil (for those with F attachment trombones)
  • Recommended accessories: polishing cloth, straight mute

EUPHONIUM
  • Recommended brands: Yamaha YEP321 or Bach 1110
  • Required mouthpiece: Bach 61/2AL or equivalent (Please consult director or private teacher for recommendation)
  • Required accessories: valve oil (Al Cass is recommended), mouthpiece brush, cleaning snake, and slide grease
  • Recommended accessories: polishing cloth, valve cleaning rod

TUBA
  • Recommended brands: Yamaha YBB321
  • Required mouthpiece: Bach 22 or 18 or equivalent (Please consult director or private teacher for recommendation)
  • Required accessories: valve oil (Al Cass is recommended), mouthpiece brush, cleaning snake, and slide grease
  • Recommended accessories: polishing cloth, valve cleaning rod

PERCUSSION
  • Recommended brands: Ludwig, Pearl, or Yamaha drum pad (or snare drum) and a small bell set, such as Yamaha YSPK250, Ludwig LUM651, or Ludwig LULE2482R (Students must own a practice pad, or snare drum, and bell set for home practice)
  • Required accessories: All Percussionists are expected to perform on mallet instruments as well as snare and auxiliary percussion. All percussionists must have a pair of snare drum sticks, a pair of keyboard mallets, and a stick bag for all classes. It is recommended that percussionists use 5A or 7BA snare drum sticks, and Musser M14 (or equivalent) keyboard mallets. Each stick and mallet should be marked with the student’s initials. For safety reasons, drum sticks and mallets may not be carried around the school building unless they are secured in a stick bag. The bag will also reduce the number of “lost” sticks.
  • Recommended accessories: Xylophone mallets, Timpani mallets, Snare drum ‘brushes’